Cable lashing machine



July 5, 1966 D. J. NEALE, SR 3,259,370

CABLE LASHING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DODY J. NEALE 52.

3M z w A TTO NE VS July 5, 1966 D. J. NEALE, SR

CABLE LASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1964 R W9 5 E E w W M m N 3 T J A w 0 D m J Hwnu 8 m9 m 3 V 8m y 5, 19.66 D. J. NEALE, SR 3, ,370,

CABLE LASHING MACHINE A TTOQNEKS July 5, 1966 D. J. NEALE, SR

CABLE LASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 50, 1964 INVENTOR.

Dom J NEALE S12.

JM 5, M

A 7' TORNE VS July 5, 1966 D. J. NEALE, SR

CABLE LASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed June 50, 1964 WAN Vm W mww United States Patent O 3,259,370 CABLE LASHING MACHINE Dory J. Neale, Sr., 3710 Shore Acres Blvd., St. Petersburg, Fla. Filed June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 379,406 20 Claims. (Cl. 254-4343) This invention relates to spinner mechanism and more particularly to apparatus for spinning a lashing wire or wire-s about an aerial cable and its supporting strand or messenger to attach the cable to said messenger.

Heretofore it has been common practice to use machines for lashing cables to a messenger which are supported on the messenger and pulled along the messenger by a rope, cable or the like, to cause rotation of the spinning head to wrap thelashing wire around the messenger to faster the cable to the messenger. It is usual to string a messenger or supporting strand between spaced supports, such as poles and the attach an aerial cable near a support and support it from the messenger by spaced wire hangers. The lashing or spinning machines usually carry a spool on which a coil of wire is mounted and the spool is revolved around the cable and supporting strand or messenger to wind the wire from the coil in spiral formation about the cable and strand as the machine is moved therealong by the pulling rope. Various means have been devised for driving the lashing mechanism as the machine is moved along the messenger for winding of the lashing wire therearound such as friction drives from trolley wheels and from wire engaging wheels, all of which may result in various defects in the proper tensioning or spiraling of the spinning wire to lash the cable to the messenger due to variations in the pulling of the machine along the messenger.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide motor driven means for movement of the spinner or cable lashing apparatus along the messenger with two lashing wires for fastening the cable to the messenger and means for movement of the apparatus along the messenger at different speeds relative to the rotation of the spinner drum on head to vary the distance between the spirals of the lashing wire.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a trolley having spaced side walls and a spinning head mounted on one end of said trolley; to provide a removable frame on the other end of the trolley for mounting a gasoline engine with means for securing the frame to said trolley; to provide spaced wheels in longitudinal alignment with each other and carried by the trolley for engaging the messenger; to provide gear means carried by the trolley for driving the trolley wheels to move the apparatus along the messenger; to provide a dual sup ply of wire for lashing the cable to the messenger; to provide brake means on the spool of wire to prevent the wire from loosening on the spool when the spinner is stopped; to provide means for automatically stopping rotation of the spinning head when the wire is almost paid from the rolls; to provide means for grounding the current to the engine to stop the same; to provide means for winding one wire around the cable and messenger or both wires at the same time spaced apart around the cable and messenger; to provide means for changing the speed of the spinner head for placement of the wire at different spaced intervals on the cable and messenger; to provide a groove or passageway in the frame and trol ley in which the messenger is adapted to engage as the device moves therealong; to provide a shoe swingably mounted upon the frame of the trolley mechanism to open the passage for placing the machine on a messenger and introduce the cable, said shoe normally raising and holding the cable in place as it is being lashed to the 3,259,370 Patented July 5, 1966 ICC messenger; to provide means for holding the cable close to the messenger forwardly of the winding of the wire in lashing the cable thereto and to provide a cable lashing machine that is small and light-weight operable by an engine to move the same along the messenger which is of simple, economical construction and esay to assemble.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide one of the bevel gears on the main shaft with clutch mechanism for cooperating with a sprocket on said shaft having connection through chain and speed reducer mechanism with the engine; to provide a speed selector carried by the frame of the trolley and to which frame the spinning head is mounted; to provide a chain and sprocket mechanism with a substantial length of engagement for rotating the spinning head; to provide means for mounting the driving wheels so as to rock with respect to the trolley frame, and to provide means for operating the mechanism for causing both wires from their spools to be lashed about the cable and messenger selectively in spaced relation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my spinner with the messenger and cable broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view through the spinner and drive.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention with the parts broken away to show the wire spool and stopping mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 44, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 5-5, FIG. 2, particularly illustrating the driving connection with the spinning head.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 66, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear end view particularly illustr ating the rollers and adjustment thereof for holding the cable against the messenger.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the gear shift mechanism for one drive to the drum of the spinning head.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the brake mechanism for the wire dispensed from the spinning head.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the shoe mechanism for the cable shown in disassembled or unlocked position at the front of the spinner mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the driving connection to the driving wheel mechanism.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged elevational view of the clutch shaft rod and control lever shaft therefor.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view particular- 1y illustrating the mounting of the motor stopping ground connection for stopping the apparatus when moved against an object ahead of the spinner.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the mounting of the ground connection for stopping the apparatus when the wire is substantially paid from the spool.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the guide for the chain driving the spinning head.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The numeral 1 designates a cable lashing machine embodying the features of the present invention which in cludes a trolly 2 comprising a cylindrical body 3 forming a longitudinal passageway 4 therethrough. The trolley 2 includes a frame portion having spaced side walls 5 and 6 and laterally extending end plates 7 and 8 attached to a head 9 having an annular rearwardly extending flange 10. The trolley includes a gap or groove portion 11 to permit mounting of the machine to a messenger 12 and to which is to be lashed a cable 13.

The frame portion of the trolley includes platforms 14 and 15 extending outwardly from each side thereof. The

sides 5 and 6 of the trolley include on their edges opposite I the head 9 spaced ears 16 and 17 having threaded bores (not shown) for receiving the threaded ends of bolts or the like 18 and 19 for securing a frame 20 to the rear end 21 of the trolley for mounting a source of power 22, such as a gasoline engine, thereon.

The side wall 5 of the trolley includes an upwardly extending arm 23 (FIG. 4) having a bearing 24 for a shaft 25, the shaft having its other end supported by an arm 26 of a housing 26' supported by the side wall 6 of the trolley. Mounted upon the shaft 25 is a gear 26" meshing with a worm 27 mounted on the end of a shaft 28 from the engine 22, the worm and worm gear constitute a gear reduction mechanism for the motor 22. The shaft 28 has the usual flexible joint connection 30 with the motor shaft 31.

A groove 32 of the frame portion for the motor or engine aligns with the passageway 4 of the cylindrical body 3 to pass the spinner over the messenger 12 and the cable 13 to be lashed thereto as later described.

The side walls 5 and 6 of the trolley are provided at substantially the center thereof near the lower sides with openings 34 and 35 for receiving a shaft 36 which extends outwardly from the walls of the trolley as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Bearings 37 and 38 are provided on the outer sides of the side Walls 5 and 6 for the shaft. Mounted on the ends 39 and 40 of the shaft 36 are bevel gears 41 and 42. An idler sprocket 43 is carried by the shaft 36 adjacent the bevel gear 41 for accommodating a chain 44 running over a sprocket 45 mounted on the shaft 25 which carries the gear 26 driven by the engine for rotating the shaft 36.

A gear 46 (FIG. 11) is mounted on the shaft 36 near the inside of wall 6 of the trolley 2 and encased within a housing 47. The gear 46 meshes with larger gears 48 and 49 also enclosed within the housing 47. The gears 48 and 49 are mounted on shafts 50 and 51 and have their other ends mounted in bearings 52 and 53 secured to a plate member 54 extending longitudinally of the trolley and spaced from the side wall 5 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Bearings 55 and 56 are provided on the side wall 57 of the housing 47 for accommodating the end of the shafts 50 and 51 upon which are mounted driving wheels 58 and 59 in longitudinal alignment with each other and having grooves 60 and 61 respectively for engaging the messenger 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The plate member 54, wheels 58 and 59, housing 47 and gears 46, 48 and 49 are all rockably mounted upon the shaft 36 so as to accommodate the apparatus when operating on a strand or messenger when it is in an inclined position. A stop member 62 (FIG. 11) is provided on the wall 5 of the trolley to limit rocking motion of the driving wheels and gear mechanism just above described. The gear reduction mechanism is mounted on an arm 63 (FIG. 2) which extends outwardly from the wall 5.

. Mounted on the inner side of the wall 5 rearwardly of the shaft 36, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is a bracket member 64 having a sleeve bearing member 65 through which extends a vertical rod 66 having its lower end turned laterally across the passageway 32 forming an arm 67 upon which is mounted a roller '68. The free end of the arm 67 is adapted to engage in a slot 69 in the frame portion 70 of the trolley, also as shown in dotted lines, FIG. 4. Mounted upon the upper end of the vertical rod 66 above the bearing 65 is a lever member 71 having a cam portion 72 provided with bifurcated cam arm 73 straddling the upper end of the rod 66,'the lever being pivoted to the rod by a pin 74. The bifurcated cam arms 73 engages against a collar or plate member 75 on the rod 66 above the bearing. The purpose of the roller 68 is to engage underneath the strand or messenger 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to retain the messenger firmly against the driving Wheels 58 and 59. It will be noted when the lever 71 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the roller 68 is in contact with the messenger and, when it is desired to release the device from the messenger, the lever is moved upwardly to move the arms 73 from the collar 75 so that the cam portion 72 will push the rod 66 downwardly, thereby moving the end of the arm 67 out of the slot 69 and movement of the lever 71 transversely will move the roller 68 out from underneath the messenger 12.

The cylindrical body 3 of the trolley (FIG. 2) has its respective ends flanged as indicated at 78 and 79. The flanged end '79 is rigidly secured to the head 9 by cap screws or the like (not shown). A head plate 80 is removably secured to the flanged end 78 of the rear end of the cylindrical body 3 by cap screws (also not shown).

A cable spinning head 81 (FIG. 2) is provided for rotation about the cylindrical body 3. The head 81 has an inner plate member 82 and an outer plate member 83. The plate member 82 has an annular flanged portion 83' engaging within the rearwardly extending flange 10 of the head 9 forming a trackway for a plurality of rollers 84 spaced around the face 85 of the head 9 by brackets 86.

The plate member 83 is spaced inwardly from the flanged end 78 of the tubular member 3 which has a rearwardly extending flange 87 engaging inside of the portion 88 of the head plate 80 on the rear end of the cylindrical body 3. Mounted on the inside wall 89 of the head plate 80 are a plurality of rollers 91 journaled in brackets 92 spaced around the wall 89 of the plate. The side 93 of the spinning plate 87 forms a trackway for the rollers 91 and when the head plate 80 is secured to the cylindrical body 3 by the cap screws will hold the spinning head on the trolley. The rollers 84 will prevent the spinning head from movement toward the head 9 of the trolley.

Also, mounted on the inner face 85 of the head 9 of the trolley by short shafts 96 are a plurality of spaced rollers 97 for engaging the inner surface of the flange 83 of the spinning head. Mounted on the head plate 80 at the rear end of the cylindrical body 3 by short shafts 98 are a plurality of spaced rollers 99. The rollers 99 engage the inner wall of the flange 87 of the head plate 83 of the spinning head 81 as the spinning head rotates around the trolley to provide free rotation of the spinning head.

Attention is directed to the fact that there is a sufficient number of rollers located in circular series about each end of the spinning head to support the tubular body of the spinning head in coaxial relation with the tubular body of the trolley and whereby suflicient rollers are at all times engaged with the tracks to maintain coaxial alignment while other of the rollers are moving across the gap in the track member 32 at the forward end of the trolley.

The cable spinning head 81 includes a parital tubular body 100 (FIG. 3) of larger diameter than the cylindrical body 3 of the trolley and is coaxially mounted therewith by means of end plates 101 and 102. The head plate 82 of the spinning head is secured to the plate or end member 102 as indicated at 103 (FIG. 2). The head plate 83 is secured to the plate or end member 101 as indicated at 104. The tubular body 100 has a gap or throat to correspond with the passageway 32 in the cylindrical body 3 of the trolley. The cylindrical body 3 of the trolley is provided at the point adjacent to the plate 82 with a sprocket segment 106 also having a throat corresponding to the passageway or throat 32 in the body 3.

A guide 107 is provided for the sprocket segment as shown in FIG. 15.

The spinning head 81 is adapted to be rotated about the cylindrical body 3 of the trolley and the body 3 is provided with the segmental sprocket 106 over which a chain 108 engages. The chan 108 runs over sprockets 109 and 110 mounted on shafts 111 and 112 respectively and supported on brackets 113 and 114 which are rigidly secured on the laterally extending plates 14 and of the trolley as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. The shafts 111 and 112 extend through the plates 7 and 8 of the trolley housing and the head 9. An idler pulley 116 is mounted on a shaft 117, also carried by the head 9. The sprockets 109 and and idler sprocket 116 are double sprockets and the chain 108 is a double chain but only one side of which engages the segmental sprocket 106. These sprockets and chains are mounted so as to avoid blocking the passageway to the gaps formed in the tubular body of the trolley and rotate the spinning head about the trolley.

A bracket 118 (FIG. 3) is mounted in the side wall 5 of the trolley and the plate 15 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and has a bearing portion 119 for a hexagon-shaped shaft 120 upon the end of which is mounted a bevel gear 121 meshing with the bevel gear 41 on the drive shaft 36. The other end of the shaft 120 is mounted in a bearing (not shown) carried by the plate 8 of the trolley (FIG. 3), and mounted on the shaft 120 is a clutch gear 123 adapted to meshwith a gear 124 mounted on the shaft 111 upon which latter shaft the sprocket 110 is mounted. The outer end of the shaft 111 is supported in a bearing bracket 125 mounted on the plate 15 of the trolley. The gear 123 is slidable on the shaft 120 and includes a clutch portion, having a collar 126 integral with but spaced from the gear 123 for receiving the bifurcated end 128 of a lever 129 having its other end pivoted by a pin 130 fixed to a bracket 131 secured to the side wall 5 of the trolley by screws or the like 132 (FIG. 8). The shaft 120 is hexagon shaped so that the gear 123 will rot-ate therewith and yet is slidable thereon through the clutch mechanism operated as later described and particularly for disengaging the gear 123 from the gear 124, also for a purpose later described.

A bracket 133 is mounted on the side wall 6 and plate 14 of the trolley and has a bearing 134 in which one end of hexagon-shaped shaft 135 is engaged and carries a bevel gear 136 meshing with the bevel gear 42 on the shaft 36. The other end of the shaft 135 is engaged in a bearing 137 of the end plate 7 of the trolley housing. Slideably mounted on the shaft 135 is a clutch gear 138 having a clutch portion consisting of a collar 139 spaced from the gear 138 for receiving the bifurcated end 140 of a lever 141, having its other end pivoted by a pin (not shown) of a bracket 143 secured to the wall 6 by screws (also not shown) but this mechanism being similar to the mechanism shown in FIG. 8 on the opposite side of the trolley. The gear 138 selectively engages a gear 144 mounted on the shaft 112 extending through the head 9 and plate 7 and having its outer end mounted in a hearing bracket 145 (FIG. 3).

When the engine of the machine is operating through the gear reducing mechanism 29 the shaft 36 wlll be rotated and the bevel gears 41 and 42 rotating therewith continuously will rotate the bevel gears 121 and 136. This rotates the shafts 120 and 135 continuously and thereby also rotates the gears 123 and 138 continuously and while either of gears 123 or 138 are enmeshed with gears 124 and 144 they will rotate such gears and thereby the sprockets 109 and 110 respectively. It is obvious, of course, that the gears 124 and 144 will n be rotated at the same time.

The speed selector mechanism for controlling the rotation of the spinning head through the clutch gears 123 and 138 consists of a keeper (FIG. 6) mounted on the end plate 8 of the trolley, the keeper consisting of two plate members and secured together by screws 151.

The outer plate member has a notch or cutout portion 152 in which is slideably mounted a rod 153 extending through openings 154 in the side wall 5 of the trolley (FIGS. 3 and 8). The end of the rod is provided with spaced depressions 155 for adjustably securing the end of the rod 153 therein by a latch member 156. A plate 157 is mounted on the side wall 5 in a vertical position and has outwardly extending spaced arms 158 provided with aligned openings 159 at one side for a vertical rod 160 to the upper end of which is rigidly secured a link 161 having its other end rigidly secured to the side of the rod 153 as indicated at 162 (FIG. 8). A rod 163 has one end rigidly secured to another side of the vertical rod 160 and its other end secured in a bifurcated end 164 of a link 165 having its other end rigidly secured at substantially the center 166 of the arm 129, and upon which is mounted a coil spring 167. One end of the spring engages against the shoulder 168 of the bifurcated end 164 and the other end against the side of the lever 129.

The rod 153 extends outwardly of the wall 6 as shown in FIG. 6 and extends through the wall 6 and into a slotted keeper 169 and has its lower edge provided with teeth 170. The rod 153 is slideable through the walls 5 and 6 and the keepers 150 and 169. A ratchet member 171 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 172 on the end plate 7 of the trolley, the ratchet member having teeth meshing with the teeth on the rod and including a lever 173 extending through the slotted keeper 169 (FIG. '1) and extending outwardly providing a hand or finger hold portion 174 for movement of the rod 153 laterally as later described.

The latch 156 is adapted to engage in the spaced openings 155 in the rod 153 when it is desired to lock one of the clutch gears in working position. The wall 6 of the trolley also includes a plate member with brackets and rod 181 similar to the plate 157 and rod 160 on the other side of the trolley and includes a rod 182 having its end connected to the rod 153 (FIG. 1) near the ratchet teeth 170. This mechanism for operating the clutch gear 123 is the same as shown on the opposite side of the trolley and includes a bracket 183 for the end of the clutch lever 142 and pin and spring arrangement as indicated at 184 (FIG. 3) whereby by movement of the lever 173 to the left the rod 153 will be moved to the left to move the end of the line 161 to the left or away from the wall 5 thereby turning the vertical rod 160 and link 163 to the right or in an anticlockwise position to pull the clutch lever 129 to the right and disengaging the gear 123 from the gear 124. Conversely, movement of the lever 173 to the right will pull the rod 153 to the right to cause the rod 185 to move to the right and movement of the rod 184 to the left to cause the clutch lever 142 to move the clutch gear 138 from engagement with the gear 144. It will be seen therefore that operation of gears 124 and 144 will be alternatively and not consecutively.

The cable 13 is guided laterally with respect to the passageway through the trolley by laterally spaced vertically disposed rollers and 191 which are carried on vertically extending armsi 192 and 193 having their lower ends turned outwardly as indicated at 194 and 195 (FIG. 6) thereby extending outwardly of the gap in the trolley. The arms are pivotally mounted on the plate 9 by pins or the like 196 (FIG. 3) in spaced rela tion and the upper ends of the arms are turned outwardly toward the trolley mechanism as indicated at 197 and 198 and secured thereto by screws or the like 199 and 200. Threaded bearings 201 and 20 2 are secured to the upper portion of the arms 192 and 193 through which a horizontally extending threaded rod 203 extends. The rod 203 has reverse threads on the respective ends for engaging the bearings 201 and 202. One end of the rod extends through an opening 204 in the side wall 5 of the trolley and is provided with a handhold 205. The other end is supported by the plate 6 7 as-indicated at 206 (FIG. 6). Rotation of the hand hold 205 will cause the threaded rod to move the upper end of the arms 193 and 194 to the right or left thereby moving the rollers 190 and 191 in the opposite direction from movement of the upper ends of the arms to locate the cable and messenger Within the trolley gap.

Mounted on the lower left side of the head by a hinge 207 is a shoe mechanism 208 for retaining the cable within the gap of the trolley as it is being lashed to the messenger. The shoe mechanism includes side Walls 209 and 210, the side wall 210 having outwardly extending spaced ears 211 provided with openings for receiving a pin 211 (FIG. 10) for mounting the hinge to the shoe 207 as is the usual practice, thereby allowing the shoe to swing outwardly and laterally of the gap. Mounted in an arcuate manner and spaced from each other between the side walls 209 and 2111 are rollers 214 on shafts as indicated at 215 extending between the side walls. The outward ends of the walls 209 and 210 are provided with upwardly extending pins 216- and 217 upon which substantially vertical rollers 218 and 219 are mounted to limit lateral movement of the cable 13 on the shoe. Locking mechanism 219 is provided for the shoe, consisting of a bracket 220 carrying a pivoted arm 221 with a link 222 engaging between hooks 223 mounted on the side 209 of the shoe mechanism to lock the shoe in place when the cable is in the position shown in FIG. 1. When it is desired to release the machine from the cable and messenger the latch is released so that the shoe will swing out from under the cable.

In order to guide the aerial cable into lashing position the plate or head 80 of the trolley mechanism is provided with spaced forwardly bracket arms 225 and 226 for mounting a roller 227 for engaging the messenger 12 (FIG. 2). Rollers 228 and 229 are mounted below the roller 227 and are supported in V-form across the entrance end of the passageway 32 whereby the aerial cable will ride within the V bearing contact with the rollers 228 and 229 as shown in FIG. 7.

The adjusting mechanism and the mounting of the guide mechanism is substantially the same as shown in FIG. 8 of my Patent No. 2,592,943 and reference is made to that patent for details of such mechanism. It will be seen that the rollers 228 and 229 mounted on the plate 230 will be pivoted on .the pin 231 to move the retaining mechanism out from under the cable and messenger upon releasing the lock mechanism as at 232 (FIG. 7).

To operate the gear mechanism for movement of the trolley along the messenger, the sides and 21 of the engine frame are provided with bearings 233 and 234 (FIG. 3) through which a shaft 235 extends having its respective ends extending outwardly of said side walls. The end .236 has a lever 237 for rotating said rod and the opposite end 238 has a forwardly extending rod 239 engaged through an opening in the end of the arm 240 of a bell crank upon the other end of which is mounted a clutch lever 241, the bell crank being rotatably mounted on a vertical post 242 and connected by a strut 243, the vertical post being mounted on the plate 15 of the trolley. The lever 241 has .a bifurcated end 244 which engages a clutch member 245 mounted on the end of the shaft 36 outwardly of the bevel gear 41.

The clutch member 245 includes .a collar 246 and spaced therefrom is a body member .247 slidably mounted on .the shaft 36. The body member 247 has ribs 2 48 engaging in grooves (not shown) in the bevel gear 41 so that the body will rotate with the shaft 36 and bevel gear 41. The inner face of the body 247 has pins 250 extending toward the sprocket 43 on the shafit 25 and adapted to engage in openings (not shown) in said sprocket when the clutch is moved into engagement therewith.

Normally the sprocket 43 idles on the shaft 36. In other Words, it is not fixed thereto but the bevel gear 41 being fixed to the shaft 36, when the clutch is operated to move the pins into engagement with the sprocket 43, the clutch being fixed to the bevel gear 41, will rotate the sh-afit 36 to make it operative to rotate the messenger wheels 58 and 59 to move the trolley machine on the messenger. Movement of the lever 237 forwardly and downwardly will cause the rod 239 to move'rearwardly against :the tension of the coil spring 251 pulling the arm 240 rearwardly and the bifurcated end of the lever 242 to move against the body of the clutch 244 to move it inwardly toward the sprocket 43 and engage the same therewith, thereby operating the gear mechanism for driving the wheels 58 and 59 to cause the trolley to move along the messenger.

The plate heads 161 and 102 of the spinning head have spaced laterally extending flanges or plate members 256 carrying reel spindles 257 and 258 for reels 259 and 260. As the reels and the mounting of the reels .are identical and are on diametrically opposite sides of the spinning head, only one will be described.

The reel 259 includes a drum sleeve portion 261 through which the spindles 257 and 258 extend and upon which drum the lashing wires 262 and 262 are wound. The reels are retained on the spindles by means of arms 264 and 265, having one end pivotally connected to pins 266 and 267 on L-shaped bracket members 268 having one end connected to the plate 102 and the other end to the flange 256. The middle of the arms 264 and 265 are provided with bosses .269 having sockets for engaging the ends of the spindles 257 and 258 .and the tree ends of the arms 264 and 265 engage in keepers 270 and 271 (FIG. 3).

The wires 262 and 262 are guided from the reels by grooved guide pulleys 272 mounted on .an arm 273 secured to the spinning heard. A bracket 274 is secured to the arm 273 and carries a grooved pulley 275 for the wire 262 and having a keeper 276. The arm 273 has an enlarged portion 277 with a vertical roller 278 for retaining the wire in the grooved pulley 272. The pulley 275 is at an angle to the pulley 272 so that the Wire will move off of the :reel over [the end of the trolley without becoming entangled with the mechanism thereof as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The plate members 256 extend outwardly of the arm 279 of the bracket 268 and are provided with an opening 280 for receiving a rod 281, also extending through an opening 282 in the bracket 268 and having a hand hoid 283 on the outer end. Mounted upon the rod 281 is a collar 2 84, the collar being rigidly mounted upon the rod 281. A bracket 285 is secured to the arm 279 of the spinning head plate member and pivotally mounted thereto by a pin 286 is a brake arm 287 having a shoe 288 pivotally mounted to the end thereof as indicated at 289 and bearing against the coiled wire on the reel as indicated at 290 (FIG. 9). The arm 287 extends outwardly from the pin 286 and secured to the outer end thereof as indicated at 291 is one end of a coil spring 292 and the other end being secured to the plate 102 of the spinning head as indicated at 293 (FIG. 9) for exerting an upward puil on the short end of the arm 287 to act as a brake through the shoe 290 on the coil of wire on the reel 0r spool to prevent same from becoming loose thereon.

The pin 281 has a coil spring 294 between the collar 284 and the arm 268 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to urge the pin toward the trolley for a purpose hereinafter described. The end 295 of the arm 287 engages under the collar as illustrated in FIG. 9 and as the wire 261 is payed off of the reei 268 the shoe will follow the coiled wire on .the reel and when the wire is about depleted from the reel the urging of the spring 292 on the short end 295 of the arm 287 will move the arm out of engagement with the collar .284 and the spring 294 will cause the pin 281 to move transversely and toward the cylindrical body 3 of the trolley.

The cylindrical body 3 of the trolley adjacent to plate member 162 of the spinning head is provided with a plurality of spaced stops 296 secured around the body 3 by an insulated band 297. When the spring 294 urges 9 the pin 281 transversely after the end of the arm 287 disengages from the collar 284 the pin will engage one of the stops 296 to stop rotation of the spinning head relative to the trolley.

A further stop mechanism is provided when the machine is traveling along the messenger by providing the end plate 300 of the engine frame with a circuit breaker mechanism consisting of a pin 301 extending through the plate 300 and insulated by a rubber member 302 and having a connection 303 with the engine and a metal contactor member 304 carried on the outer end of the pin 301 and a circuit breaking arm 305 secured to the plate 300 as indicated at 306.

I also provide for grounding of the motor through a line 307 (FIG. 2) leading from the motor or engine 22 and extending through the gap and passageways of the trolley and grounded as indicated at 303 (FIG. 2).

Change of speed of rotation of the spinning head 81 relative to the trolley 2 is accomplished by relative sizes of the gears 123 and 124 with relation to the gears 138 and 144. By reference to FIG. 6 it will be shown that the gear 124 is larger than gear 144 and gear 123 is smaller than gear 138. Therefore, when the spinning head is in operation with the gear 123 meshing with gear 124 the spinning head will rotate at a greater speed than when the gear 138 is meshed with gear 144, thereby speed of rotation of the spinning head is changed by manipulation of lever 173.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided improved means for rotating a spinning head about a trolley for lashing cable to a messenger at different speeds and thereby change the difference in spiralling of the lashing wires and particularly through gear mechanism; one gear is larger than the other and means for selectively operating such gears to effect such change in speed.

It will further be obvious that I have provided an improved means for driving the trolley along the messenger and means for holding the cable in contact with the driving wheels as well as improved means for driving the main shaft having connection with the shafts on the driving wheels whereby a positive action for moving the lashing machine is obtained.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of the parts herein described and shown, except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lashing machine for securing aerial cable to a messenger comprising, a trolley including a head and a cylindrical body and having a longitudinal passageway through said trolley, means securing said cylindrical body to said head, a spinning head, means for mounting said spinning head on said trolley for rotation about the axis of said passageway, means at each end of the passageway through said cylindrical body for supporting said cable and retaining said cable in contact with the messenger, motor means for driving said lashing machine along said messenger, said trolley including spaced side walls, at least one wheel engaging said messenger mounted between said side walls, a shaft extending transversely through said side walls of the trolley, a gear reduction mechanism carried by said trolley having connection with said motor, and a sprocket on said shaft and chain and sprocket and clutch means connecting said gear reduction mechanism with said sprocket on said shaft for driving said wheel on said messenger.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means maintaining said messenger in contact with said wheel.

3. A lashing machine for securing aerial cable to a messenger comprising a trolley including a head and a cylindrical body having a rear end and having a longitudinal passageway through said trolley, means securing said cylindrical body to said head, a spinning head, means for mounting said spinning head on said trolley for rotation about the axis of said passageway, means at the rear end of the passageway through said cylindrical body for supporting said cable and retaining said cable in contact with the messenger at said rear end of said passageway, a shoe mechanism hingedly mounted on said head on one side of said passageway for supporting said cable in said passageway, said shoe mechanism including a frame and spaced transverse rollers on said frame and upwardly extending rollers on the rear end of said frame for supporting said cable and means locking said shoe mechanism to said head on the other side of said passageway, and motor means for driving said lashing machine along said mes senger.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means for rotating said spinning head about said cylindrical body of the trolley at different speeds.

5. The combination of claim 3 including means for storing lashing wire on opposite sides of said spinning head.

6. The combination of claim 5 including means for changing speed of rotation of said spinning head and thereby regulating the spiralling of said wire about said messenger and cable.

7. A lashing machine for securing aerial cables to a messenger including a trolley having a frame .and wheels in longitudinal alignment adapted to be driven along the messenger, said trolley including a cylindrical head and a cylindrical body secured to said head, said trolley, head and body having a passageway longitudinally therethrough for said messenger and cable, a spinning head, means mounting said spinning head for rotation about said body, said frame having spaced side walls, said side walls having transversely extending plates secured to said head, a main shaft extend-ing transversely through said side walls of the frame and extending outwardly therefrom, bevel gears on the outer ends of said main shaft, a gear on said main shaft inside of one of said side walls, spaced shafts carried by said frame for said wheels, gears on said last named shafts meshing with the gear on said main shaft, a motor mounted on said frame: forwardly of said main shaft, gear reduction mechanism carried by said frame rearwardly of said motor and having driving connection with said motor, an idler sprocket mounted on said main shaft outside of one of said side walls and inside one of said bevel gears mounted on the outer end of said shaft, clutch means carried by said last named. bevel gear cooperating with said idler sprocket on said shaft, chain and sprocket means connecting said idler sprocket on said main shaft and said gear reduction mechanism, means for moving said clutch bevel gear into engagement with said idler sprocket for driving said machine along said messenger.

8. The combination of claim 7 including means for holding said messenger in engagement with said wheels.

9. The combination of claim 7 including means for rotating said spinning head about said cylindrical body of the trolley at different speeds.

10. The combination of claim 7 including means for Isltorjing lashing wire on opposite sides of said spinning 11. The combination of claim 9 including means for changing speed of rotation of said spinning head and thereby regulatingthe spiralling of said wire about said messenger and cable.

12. A lashing machine for securing aerial cables to a messenger including a trolley having a frame and wheels in longitudinal alignment adapted to be driven along the messenger, said trolley including a cylindrical head and a cylindrical body secured to said head, said trolley, head and body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough, a spinning head, means mounting said spinning head for rotation about said body, said frame having spaced side walls, said side walls having transversely extending plates secured to said head, a main shaft extending transversely through said side walls of the frame and extending outwardly therefrom, bevel gears on the outer ends of said main shaft, a gear on said main shaft inside of one of said side walls, spaced shafts carried by said frame for said wheels, gears on said last named shafts meshing with the gear on said main shaft a motor mounted on said frame forwardly of said main shaft, gear reduction mechanism carried by said frame rearwardly of said motor and having driving connection with said motor, an idler sprocket mounted on said main shaft outside of one of said side walls and inside one of said bevel gears mounted on the outer end of said shaft, clutch means carried by said last named bevel gear cooperating with said idler sprocket on said shaft, chain and sprocket means connecting said idler sprocket on said main shaft and said gear reduction mechanism, means for clutching and declutching said bevel gear clutch mechanism, means for rotating said spinning head about said body, said last named means including a gear segment and chains and sprockets on the side of said head opposite said frame, said last named sprockets being mounted on shafts extending through said head and said transverse plates and having gears mounted on their outer ends, one of said last named gears being larger than the other, short shafts mounted on the transverse plates spaced from the gears of different size, clutch gears adapted to engage said gears of different size, means carried by said frame including arms for engaging said clutch gears for selectively engaging said clutch sprockets from said gears of different size to selectively vary the speed of rotation of said spinning head.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the last named means thereof includes an arm extending through said side walls having ratchet and teeth mechanism and a lever mechanism and means for selectively moving one of said clutch sprockets out of engagement with its gear while the other sprocket is engaged for rotating said spinning head at different speeds.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the last named means thereof includes brackets on said side walls having rotatable vertical rods thereon and spring urged arm means connected to said arms for engaging said clutch gears whereby movement of said lever will selectively disengage said clutch gears from said gear of different size.

15. The combination of claim 7 wherein said gears on said shafts upon which said Wheels are mounted and which engage with the gear on the main shaft are rockably mounted for accommodating the trolley on the messenger in inclined position.

16. A lashing machine for securing aerial cables to a messenger including a trolley having a frame and Wheels in longitudinal alignment adapted to be rolled along the messenger, said trolley including a cylindrical head and a cylindrical body secured to said head, said trolley, head and body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough, a Spinning head, means mounting said spinning head for rotation about said body, said frame having spaced side walls, said side walls having transverse plates extending vertically from said side walls and secured to said head, said side walls having bottom plates extending outwardly thereof and joining said transverse plates, a main shaft extending transversely through said side walls of the frame and extending outwardly therefrom, bevel gears on the outer ends of said main shaft, a gear on said main shaft inside of one of said side walls, spaced shafts carried by said frame for said wheels, gears on said last named shafts meshing with the gear on said main shaft, a motor mounted on said frame forwardly of said main shaft, for moving said machine along said messenger, gear reduction mechanism carried by said frame rearwardly of said motor and having driving connection with said motor, an idler sprocket mounted on said main shaft outside of one of said side walls and inside one of said bevel gears mounted on the outer end of said shaft, clutch means carried by said last named bevel gear cooperating with said idler sprocket on said shaft, chain and sprocket means connecting said sprocket on said main shaft and said gear reduction mechanism, means for clutching and declutching said bevel gear clutch mechanism, means for rotating said spinning head about said body, said means including bearing brackets mounted on said bottom plates spaced from said head, short shafts having one end mounted in said brackets and extending through said head, sprockets on the portion of said shafts extending through said head, driven gears on said short shafts adjacent said head, one of said driven gears being larger in diameter than the other, a gear segment on said spinning head, an idler sprocket mounted on said head inalignment with said last named sprockets, a chain running over said last named sprockets, shafts on each side of said walls and running parallel therewith, one of said shaft being mounted in bearing brackets carried by said frame and adjacent said main shaft, the other ends being mounted in said transverse plates on said head, bevel gears on said parallel shafts meshing with the bevel gears on the main shaft, clutch gears on the parallel shafts adjacent said transverse plates for meshing with said driven gears, and means carried by said trolley frame for alternately disengaging said clutch gears from said driven gears for rotating said spinning head at different speeds.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said means for alternately disengaging said clutch gears from said driven gears includes an arm slidable through said side walls having one end engaging in a keeper secured to one of said transverse plates and its other end having teeth on the lower edge thereof and extending through a loop on the other of said plates, a lever having one end engaging through a keeper carried by said last named plate and one end having a gear segment engaging the teeth on said arm, vertical brackets on said transverse plates spaced from said side walls, said brackets having spaced outwardly extending lugs, said lugs having aligned openings, vertically extending rods rotatably mounted in said openings, links having one end rigidly attached to said arm extending through said side walls and their other ends rigidly attached to the upper ends of said vertical rods, second brackets carried by said transverse plates spaced from the first named brackets, clutch arms having bifurcated ends engaging said clutch gears and their other ends rotatably engaged in said second brackets, second rods having one end rigidly secured to the lower ends of said vertical rods, links having one end secured to said clutch arms and their other ends pivotally secured to the outer ends of said second rods, springs on said last named links normally urging said clutch gears into engagement with said gears of different size, whereby movement of said lever with the segment thereon in one direction will cause one of said clutch gears to be disengaged and movement of the lever in the other direction will disengage the other clutch gear.

18. The combination of claim 12 wherein said means for alternately disengaging said clutch gears from said driven gears includes an arm slidable through said side walls having one end engaging in a keeper secured to one of said transverse plates and its other end having teeth on the lower edge thereof and extending through a loop on the other of said plates, a lever having one end engaging through a keeper carried by said last named plate and one end having a gear segment engaging the teeth on said arm, vertical brackets on said transverse plates spaced from said side walls, said brackets having spaced outwardly extending lugs, said lugs having aligned openings, vertically extending rods rotatably mounted in said openings, links having one end rigidly attached to said arm extending through said side walls and their other ends rigidly attached to the upper ends of said vertical rods, second brackets carried by said transverse plates spaced from the first named brackets, clutch arms having bifurcated ends engaging said clutch gears and their other ends rotatably engaged in said sec- 0nd brackets, second rods having one end rigidly secured to the lower ends of said vertical rods, links having one end secured to said clutch arms and their other ends pivotally secured to the outer ends of said second rods, springs on said last named links normally urging said clutch gears into engagement with said gears of different size, whereby movement of said lever with the segment thereon in one direction will cause one of said clutch gears to be disengaged and movement of the lever in the other direction will disengage the other clutch gear.

19. The combination of claim 18 including a rearwardly extending flange on said head, a forwardly extending flange on said head plate, an inner plate member on said spinning head having a forwardly extending flange inside said flange on the head, a plate member on the spinning head spaced from said head plate and having a rearwardly extending flange inside said flange on the head plate, rollers journalled in brackets spaced on said head plate and said rollers engaging said plate member on the spinning head, rollers mounted on shafts spaced on said head plate and said rollers engaging said rearwardly extending flange on said plate member, rollers journalled in brackets spaced around said head on said trolley and said rollers engaging said inner plate member, rollers mounted on shafts spaced on the rear side of said head in the trolley and said rollers engaging the forwardly extending flange on said inner plate.

20. A lashing machine for securing aerial cable to a messenger comprising, a trolley including a head and a cylindrical body and having a longitudinal passageway through said trolley, means securing said cylindrical body to said head, a spinning head, means for mounting said spinning head on said trolley for rotation about the axis of said passageway, means at each end of the passageway through said cylindrical body for supporting said cable and retaining said cable in contact with the messenger, motor means for driving said lashing machine along said messenger, means for storing lashing wire on opposite sides of said spinning head, means for causing said wire to be payed from said spinning head, and means carried by said spinning head cooperating with means on said body for stopping unwinding of said wire from said storing means before it is entirely payed therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,635 8/1949 Neale 254-1343 2,663,544 12/1953 Harley 254-1343 3,162,992 12/1964 Davis et al 5710 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Examiner. 

1. LASHING MACHINE FOR SECURING AERIAL CABLE TO A MESSENGER COMPRISING, A TROLLER INCLUDING A HEAD AND A CYLINDRICAL BODY AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID TROLLEY, MEANS SECURING SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY TO SAID HEAD, A SPINNING HEAD MEANS FOR MOUNTED SAID SPINNING HEAD ON SAID TROLLEY FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PASSAGEWAY, MEANS AT EACH END OF THE PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY FOR SUPPORTING SAID CABLE AND RETAINING SAID CABLE IN CONTACT WITH THE MESSENGER, MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID LASHING MACHINE ALONG SAID MESSENGER, SAID TROLLEY INCLUDING SPACED SIDE WALLS, AT LEAST ONE WHEEL ENGAGING SAID MESSENGER MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, A SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID SIDE WALLS OF THE TROLLEY, A GEAR REDUCTION MECHANISM CARRIED BY SAID TROLLEY HAVING CONNECTION WITH SAID MOTOR, AND A SPROCKET ON SAID SHAFT AND CHAIN AND SPROCKET AND CLUTCH MEANS CONNECTING SAID GEAR REDUCTION MECHANISM WITH SAID SPROCKET ON SAID SHAFT FOR DRIVING SAID WHEEL ON SAID MESSENGER. 